Partit Nazzjonalista Head of Delegation in the European Parliament David Casa said the 17 Black scandal has implications on the investigation into the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia last year.

“When Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated she was working on the biggest data leak she had ever received. She was reviewing thousands of Electrogas documents given to her by a source,” he said.

David Casa emphasised this in a letter sent today to European Commissioner for Justice Věra Jourová, in which he referred to the latest revelations on 17 Black and the financial link between one of the shareholders of the Electrogas Power Station to the secret companies of the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Minister Konrad Mizzi. In his letter, MEP Casa reiterated the importance of having an independent public inquiry into the role of the Maltese State in the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

He also stated: “The revelations also further expose the deterioration of the rule of law in Malta. According to Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri are to retain their posts at the highest levels of the Maltese government until a magisterial inquiry is concluded. The magisterial inquiry in question was launched on the request of the Opposition as measure of last resort following inaction by the politically appointed Commissioner of Police. The investigation has yet to start as it is being resisted at every turn by the very same Prime Minister claiming to be awaiting its conclusion before taking any action on the matter”.